Eight-run sixth gives Brandeis 11-9 win over Amherst

Apr 24, 2007

AMHERST, MA – The Brandeis University baseball team plated
eight runs in the sixth inning today, sending 12 men to the plate,
as the Judges defeated host Amherst College, 11-9, in
non-conference action.

Brandeis's (12-13) Ben Dashefsky wasted no time increasing his
hitting streak to 11 games, as the senior tri-captain led off the
game with a single up the middle. Classmate and fellow tri-captain
Zach Golden followed with a liner to right center that got by a
diving Tom Scott, advancing Dashefsky to third and giving Golden a
stand-up double.

First-year Ryan Healy kept the no-out rally going with a bloop
single to right field, bringing in Dashefsky for the first run of
the game. Senior tri-captain Jon Winston recorded the first out
with a fly ball to Scott, but it was deep enough to bring Golden
home. First-year right-hander Teddy Blank got out of the inning
with a 5-4-3 double play, as Amherst (12-10) found themselves
trailing 2-0 in an early hole.

Sophomore Brendan Powers started a two-out rally in the bottom of
the second with a liner up the middle, followed by a single from
sophomore Angus Schaller . Junior Josh Card drew a walk to load the
bases, but junior left-hander Tyler Robinson got out of the jam by
getting first-year Andy Thal to line out to a leaping James Likis
at third base.

Brandeis put runners on first and second with no outs in the
fourth, but Blank drew three quick outs to end the threat. Senior
co-captain Jared Banner found himself on third base in the bottom
half of the frame after reaching on an error, advancing to second
on a wild pitch and stealing third, but the Jeffs could not take
advantage of the situation, as Robinson drew a pop out and fly out
to preserve the 2-0 lead.

The Judges chalked up a third run in the top of the fifth, but the
Jeffs played small ball in their half of the frame to climb back
into the game. Card and Thal reached on back-to-back bunt singles,
followed by a Mark Mazzone walk to load the bases. Scott tied the
game with one swing of the bat on a 3-RBI double, and Junior Neal
Allar gave Amherst a 5-3 lead on the next at-bat with a two-run
homer over the fence in right center.

Brandeis cut its deficit to one run in the sixth inning after a
hit, walk and Amherst fielding error, and Chuck Sheehan handed the
lead back to the Judges by ripping a double down the right field
line to plate two, chasing Blank from the game and bringing in
junior Chris Edgar with no outs.

Everything seemed to be going Brandeis’ way in the top of the
sixth, as the Judges plated eight runs with a combination of bloop
hits, timely hitting and sloppy Amherst defense.

After Mazzone and Scott strung together singles to start the bottom
of the seventh, Allar belted his second homer of the game, again
showing off his opposite-field power, to cut the Jeffs’
deficit to three runs with no outs in the inning. The home run
ended Robinson’s night, allowing junior Mike Dax to pick up
the next three outs and preserve the 11-8 lead.

The Jeffs got one run back in the ninth but the Judges held on for
the 11-9 win. Blank (2-2) allowed 10 hits and five earned runs in
five innings of work, adding five strikeouts and just one walk.

Scott and Allar each went 3-for-5 and combined for eight RBIs and
five runs scored, while Healy and Dashefsky each went 3-for-5 to
lead the Judges. Robinson (5-2) allowed 10 hits in six innings,
adding a pair of strikeouts, while Dax earned the first save of his
career.